Driver Talent - formerly known as DriveTheLife - is a simple tool which checks your PC's device drivers, alerts you to any updates and installs them on demand.

Launch the program, click Scan and it checks your system for outdated drivers.

Any available updates are displayed in a list, and you can choose to allow the program to update them, or just download the files for you to apply later.

In an unusually honest touch (for this type of program), Driver Talent states that "it is not recommended to update if your PC is working normally".

There are also tools to back up and restore one or more drivers, or to uninstall some devices entirely.

All the features we describe here at completely free for the moment.

But it looks like that 2016 will see both a Free and Pro version, where the Free build has various restrictions (can't update automatically, can't fully uninstall drivers etc).

Verdict:

Some people say there's little value in updating drivers, that you can cause more problems than you solve. They might have a point, but if you'd like to try this kind of tool anyway, Driver Talent is an above-average example of the type.

Spotlight: Free Full Software

WhatsApp Messenger is the world's most popular instant messaging app for smartphones.

You can use it to send and receive text and voice messages, photos, videos, even call your friends in other countries, and because it uses your phone's internet connection it might not cost you anything at all (depending on whether you'll pay data charges).

It's easy to set up and use. There's no need to create and remember new account names or pins because it works with your phone number, and uses your regular address book to find and connect you with friends who use WhatsApp already.

You can talk one-to-one or in group chats, and because you're always logged in there's no way to miss messages. Even if your phone is turned off, WhatsApp will save your messages and display them as soon as you're back online.

There's plenty more (location sharing, contact exchange, message broadcasting) and the app is free for a year, currently $0.99/ year afterwards.